Which I turned down, obviously. But then...well, first off, I'm a police officer, I can't just take money for a sort of 'second job', and can't have money just appear in my bank account. She looked at me as if I was an idiot for thinking that would ever be a problem - which, fair enough, I'm sure she could sort all that out, no questions asked.

So then she sort of assumed that I'd accept, which...well, I'm just not. I mean, I haven't - didn't. Because it's not a job, is it? I don't do it for any reward. And then the conversation got complicated, because of course I think John should be paid, because it is his job. Except I know it's not just a job for him either, is it? It's...well, it's the same. We both love these boys, we'd both do anything for them. But I definitely shouldn't be paid, and he definitely should, despite us both feeling the same, and anyway, we left it at that. And me feeling thoroughly confused. I suppose the difference is that I have another job, and I don't spend nearly as much time looking after the boys as he does - I barely see Sherlock some weeks. Maybe half an hour in the morning, another hour or two in the evening, if I don't end up working late. Whereas John, despite his protests, would struggle to fit in any other work - especially with the school holidays. So maybe that's the difference. I don't know.

I did offer to pay her rent. She didn't dignify that with an answer...so I'm essentially earning a decent wage, living rent-free, with hopefully, soon, tenants to pay off my own mortgage.

I think once we're home (if we survive Sherlock's piloting skills) John might put some pictures up of where we've been. You won't believe it. I'm not sure I do. Can't really believe we'll be back in London tonight.

Yeah. To be honest, there have been times where I've felt my position in all their lives was tenuous. Because of the power she has. She chose John to be in their lives. She didn't choose me. So, yeah, it sort of felt like she...I don't know. I feel more secure. She asked about how I was settling into the flat and stuff, too. It was good. A good conversation. I hope we both understand where each other stands a little better now.

As for where my duties lie - I think that really depends on the circumstances. If my job weren't sometimes life-or-death, it would definitely come second to the boys. But it is. So it can't. And I do struggle with that, sometimes.

I wonder if offering you money was her way of (1) showing you that she doesn't consider your role in her sons' lives is not tenuous and (2) allowing you to declare to her that you love them without any monetary inducement. Integrity established all around, I think.

Sherlock did get to sit in the pilot's seat on the way out here. I'm not sure how much 'flying' there was. We're due to leave again shortly. I'm fairly sure he will perform some sort of mutiny if he doesn't get to do it again...

She personally hired John as Senior Manager in Charge of Children just as she hired Anthea, Senior Manager in Charge of Security.

John decided that his department needed a new position in the form of Part-Time Unpaid Administrator in Charge of Kisses, Cooking and Cleaning up Glitter.

Now the CEO doesn't interview for every role, just as I'm sure she didn't personally interview every member of Anthea's security team. She trusts her managers to pick the right people for the jobs. If she didn't trust their judgements in these things then she wouldn't have made them managers. As long as they're doing their jobs satisfactorily (and again, she trusts her managers to make those sorts of judgements as well) and pass her personal security checks then that's fine.

So basically just because Mrs Holmes didn't interview you personally doesn't mean you aren't an important part of her organisation. If John thinks you're the right man for the Job, I'm sure she agrees (in fact you should be sure as well as she just offered you a pay rise (from 0 money to some money) as a reward for your good work!)

Right. We're packed, Sherlock's things are packed...apart from a suspiciously absent water pistol. And a suspiciously absent Sherlock. I'm predicting a siege situation. And that in removing Sherlock from this fort, we're going to get rather wet.

And I totally get why you think you shouldn't get paid, and John should. after all, your degree of participation in the boys lives is entirely at your discretion, isn't it? (What I mean is, an acquaintance of mine dated someone with two teenaged kids, and he didn't get involved in their lives at all. His relationship was strictly with their Mum, nothing else. Your relationship with the boys is as it is because you choose it to be that way).

I agree with Innie, too, FWIW.

Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling a bit more secure in your place in their lives (even if Sherlock would currently like to register a complaint :-p)

Well, I wouldn't like to try to fight it out with Sherlock over who gets to see John if I wasn't as involved as I am... I think I might lose!

As for Sherlock this evening - he's tired, coming off a big high of an amazing weekend, and seriously not used to people saying 'no' to him. Hence his phrasing of 'I'm getting Degu' - no question about it, in his mind!

I'm sure once he and John have talked about it, he'll be a bit calmer. I hope.